Every crisis increases the risk of corruption. However, COVID-19 could be a turning point, opening the way to reform, especially in countries ruled by authoritarian, corrupt governments before the pandemic. Will the pandemic help bring down non-liberal regimes? Or, conversely, will it strengthen them, deepening the rule-of-law crisis and increasing the threat of corruption? What is the nature of corruption during the pandemic, with the health crisis superimposed on the rule-of-law crisis? What has this pandemic taught us about the risk of corruption and how to prevent it? Will we be wiser after the pandemic when it comes to handling health threats, but also to countering corruption while governments are declaring a state of emergency and, under disguise, creating corruption-generating mechanisms.

The Polish Batory Foundation debates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on corruption and on the rule of law with

• Prof. Alina Mugiu-Pippidi, Hertie School, ERCAS Chair
• Prof. Janine Wedel, George Mason University, ERCAS Senior Fellow
• Prof. Nikos Passas, Northeastern University
• Dr. Marcin Walecki, St. Antony’s College, Oxford University

Moderation by Grzegorz Makowski.

Thursday, December 10 | 12 pm – 2 pm CET

Watch the panel here: